February 22, 2009

I am sorry for not posting here for a while, as we’ve been very busy with the launch of Red Eagle Games. Please remember that we continue to follow the discussion on the Wheel of Time message boards, even if we can’t post as often as we like.

I know that some of you are very protective of Robert Jordan’s creative legacy. Accordingly, these sentiments are reflected in strong and unwavering opinions that mirror deep and intense feelings for The Wheel of Time. And as someone who shares your passion for Jordan’s work, I cannot fault anyone else for acting to protect something in which they have found so much meaning and enjoyment. The beautiful thing is that everyone in The Wheel of Time community will get a chance to vote on the quality of our movie and video game projects once completed. All that we ask is that you judge our finished work with a fair and open mind.

Over the past week, we have completed (finally!) all of the necessary contractual arrangements for making the WOT picture. Although the handshakes took place long ago, the actual task of "papering" the transaction took a little more than one year. In the process of closing our deal with Universal, I have learned that making a movie has much in common with the making of sausage. (While the finished product may taste good, no one much enjoys the experience of seeing first-hand exactly how it gets made).

At long last, we are now ready to begin the creative process of adapting the story to a screenplay. All of the other work that lies ahead (e.g. developing a production budget, selecting shooting locations, casting, selection of a director, etc.) is secondary to preparing a script that is truly magical.

We are fortunate that the development executive at Universal who responsible for this project is a devout fan of the WOT series. Everyone should be happy to hear that his creative views are shaped by a deep understanding of the characters, themes and storylines of Jordan’s work. In addition, our good luck continues, as we have found an exceptionally talented screenwriter having an equal knowledge and passion for the source material. It’s going to be hard work, but I am very much looking forward to the creative collaboration involved in lifting the story from the printed page and adapting it to fill the contours of the big screen. There won’t be much to report in the months ahead as we focus our attention on working with the writer to complete the screenplay, but I believe that this first step will be the most important part of making a great picture.

All the best,

Larry Mondragon